Price tag marking machine



March 9, 1943. F. KOHNLE 2,313,347

PRICE TAG MARKING MACHINE Original- Filed June 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nil 4 I INVENT-OR.

BY W MATTCRNEYS March 9, 1943. F. KOHNLE PRICE TAG MARKING MACHINE Original Filed June 5,1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR.

Wide

March 3. I F. KoHNL; 2,313,347

PRICE TAG MARKING'MACHINE original Filed June 5, 1939 r3 Sheets-Sheet 3 r I H V INVENTOR. BY wkv y MIJATTORNEY Patented Mar. 9, 1943 PRICE TAG MARKING MACHINE Frederick Kohnle, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Monarch Marking System Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Original application June 5, 1939, Serial No. 277,363. Divided and this application January 16, 1940, Serial No. 314,116

8 Claims. (01. 271-25) This invention relates to machines for marking price tags or tickets. More particularly, it relates to machines of the type designed for rereceiving and feeding roll or strips of tickets and for presenting the tickets successively beneath a printing head.

There are a great many types of price markin'g tags or tickets on the market. Among these, for example, are ones known as pin tickets, string tags, sew-on tags, foldover tickets, gum labels, button tags, and slip-fold tickets. It has been one object of the present inventor to provide a strip feeding and guiding mechanism for this type of machine which will feed any one of these various types of tickets.

In the provision of this type of mechanism it is important that the feed guiding mechanism receive and guide strips of the so-called slipfold tickets which are tickets including laterally extended wire clips.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the invention, a guideway of substantial width is provided. The wire clip tickets are fed along and against one side wall of the guideway. Aguide plate is provided for supporting the laterally extended clips, which clips overhang the edge of the plate. The guide plate or strip is notched so as to allow the clips to lie in the plane of the bottom of the guide at the printing station and at the same time constitutes a side edge for the guideway for guiding tickets of certain widths.

It has been another object of the present inventor to provide an improved feeding mechanism for feeding strips of tickets of different types, for example those having edge notches and those having notches across the central portion of the strip, and those of different widths. Also the structure provides an improved construction and arrangement of the feed fingers, the feed carriage and the pressure plate which rests on the strip of tickets.

This application has been divided from the co-pending application Serial No. 277,363, filed June 5, 1939, entitled Price tag marking machine, which has matured into Patent No. 2,271,840, February 3, 1942.

Other objects and certain advantages will be more fully apparent from a description of the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the price marking machine of this invention looking to ward the operating side.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the table portion of the machine showing a strip of tickets of slip-fold type being fed through the guideway.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the casing portion of the machine with the side plate removed showing a roll of gummed labels in position for feed through the machine.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side view of the machine with the crank wheel removed for illustrating the operating means for the printinghead and the feed unit.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55, Figure 4, illustrating the operating mechanisms for the printing head and the inking pad.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-5, Figure 5, illustrating the details of the inking pad operating mechanism.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line l-'l in Figure 5.

As shown in the drawings, the machine is mounted on a base l5. This base constitutes a cabinet in which a filing drawer I6 is mounted. This drawer provides compartments (not shown) in which a supply of type elements is contained. The frame or body I! of the machine is in the form of a vertical plate, including a base flange I8, fixed to the cabinet by means of bolts Hi. This element ll constitutes one wall of a container for a roll of tickets indicated at 2!. The enclosure is completed by means of a side cover plate '22 constituting the other .side wall and completing the end walls of the chamber. An end flange 23 of the cover plate overlies the end flange 24 of the frame plate. A screw 25 is engaged through these flanges for holding the cover plate in position.

The frame includes a horizontally disposed top flange providing a table or guideway 21, across which the tickets are fed to the printing head. This table provides an inner longitudinal wall 23 for guiding one longitudinal edge of the ticket strip.

The machine is designed for price marking different types of tags. For example, as shown in Figure 3, the gum type of label, wound in rolls 2|, may be price marked by the machine. The roll of tickets is mounted within the chamber on a hub or sleeve projecting from the frame. The forward wall of the chamber includes a clearance opening 3| and the length of tickets is fed from the roll through this opening. A flanged roller 32 is journalled on a bracket 33 fixed to the forward end of the delivery table. The top of the periphery of the roller is substantially in the same plane as the top of the table. The roller also serves as a guide for delivering the length of tickets to the table since the distance between its flanges is substantially equal to the width of the tickets. A drag element 3 is pivotally mounted in the frame wall. This element, made from a length of wire, is bent to extend downwardly from the pivotal point and includes a horizontally disposed porticn 35 resting upon the strip as it leaves the reel and moves through the exit opening.

Straight strips 35 or lengths of tickets of the slip-fold type may also be fed through the machine, as shown in Figure 2. The wire clips 31 of the tickets extend from the side edges of the strip. A side rail 38 is fixed to the side of the table portion by means of screws 39. This rail engages and supports the clips as the strip moves along the table. The top edge of the rail is notched as at 40. The notches are spaced apart the length of the respective tickets. Each notch provides a fiat supporting portion in the same plane with the table. Accordingly, the strip may rest, without interference, upon the flat table surface for printing, particularly at the platen beneath the printing head. At the same time, the guiding function of the rail is not impaired since a portion projects above the table surface.

That portion of the table, over which the ticket feeding mechanism operates, is provided with a" wear plate M countersunk in the table top so as to dispose its top surface in. the same plane with the delivery end portion of the table. This wear plate terminates or is cut out to provide a space, within which the platen 42, formed of rubber in this instance, is disposed. ihe removable wear plate is provided for the reasonthat the table wears, over a period of time, due to the drag of the feeding fingers across its surface.

A presser plate '45 is mounted above and along the table loosely upon a pair of pins 46. A side flange portion 41 of the plate engages these pins. The plate is held down by a coil spring 48 under compression, around one of the pins, between the flange portion of the guide plate and a flange 49 of a guide. plate 53. The end of the plate 65 adjacent the roller 32 is turned upwardly to pro vide a flared entrance for the strip of tickets as it comes from the roller. Also, the outer side edge of the plate is turned upwardly to provide a side fiangeefil. theplate and projects downwardly as at ia into contact with the guideway and thereby provides an outside guiding edge for the gummed strip. When the wider or slip fold strip is being fed, the flange El rides on top of the strip.

The feeding and inking unit is mounted for reciprocation above the presser plate and along the table on a stud 52 projecting from the upper end of an actuating lever 53. The actuating lever is of bell crank form. It is mounted on the pivotpin 54, projecting from the outer face of the frame. A cotter pin and washer hold the lever on the pin. The lower end of one arm of the bell crank carries a roller 55, which is en gaged by a cam tit-fixed to the drive shaft 5?, journalled in the reel supporting hub 36 previ ously mentioned.

A crank .wheel 58 is fixed to the forward end of the shaft and includes a crank arm providing a loosely rotating, manipulating knob 5%. The wheel houses and conceals the actuating parts for the various movements of the machine. The collar 69 is fixed on the inner end of the shaft. Thus the shaft assembly is maintained.

A coil spring 6!, under tension between a pin This flange extends ahead of I 62 on .the actuating arm of the lever 53 and a fixed pin 63 on the frame, holds the roller against the cam and thus returns the feeding unit. The lever 53 lies against the outer face of the frame. Its upper end is maintained against the face by means of the retaining or guide plate 59 fixed to the outer face of the frame. This plate is pressed to provide a guideway within which the arm may swing.

One end of the feeding unit is provided with side lugs 64, which are traversed by 'the supporting stud 52 of the lever. The unit extends forwardly over the presser plate. It is normally held downwardly by means of a coil spring 65 wound around the stud, having one end fixed thereto and the other end hooked over a lug 64 of the unit for exerting a rotating tension. This forwardly projecting unit carries an inking pad 68 on its forward end.

The feed fingers 8'1 and 68 have their rear ends pivotally mounted on the support stud 52 and are spaced apart by means of a sleeve 69 interposed therebetween on the stud. They include downwardly pointed sharp forward ends sliding in contact with the surface of the wear plate of the table through clearance slots ill in the presser plate 45. A spring mounting and guide block H is fixed to the underside of the body 12 of the feeding unit. This block includes slots J3 in its underside, in which the fingers are disposed. Coil springs 74, under compression are provided between the fingers El, 58 and a plate fixed to the top of the unit through bores in the block and body of the unit.

After the unit has moved to its forward position, its forward end is lifted by means of a mechanism, hereinafter described, which is effective for inking the type and for lifting the feedingfingers clear of theticket strip. This lifting action brings about a lifting action on the fingers. For this purpose, the fingers include forward extensions 16 lying, upon the top of the main element of the feeding unit. Appropriate clearanceis afforded between the extensions i6 and the fingers 6'5, 68 so. that the fingers are free to move or drop into feeding engagement with the strip under the influence of the springs. However, as the feeding unit is swung upwardly, it engages these extensions and raises the fingers to prevent displacement of the springs l from between the fingers and the plate 15 and to clear the notches in the tag strips. When the unit returns to its rear limit of travel, the fingers are raised by engagement with the presser plate, as they leave the ends of the clearance slots.

Each strip is provided with notches or slots 1! defining the tag portions and providing the means for engagement by the feeding fingers. In the instance of the slip-fold type, the notches are along one side edge, whereas, in the strip of gummed labels, cross slots l8 are provided centrally of the width ofthe strip on the lines of separation of the tickets. Thus, when the slip-fold type of ticket is being fed, the outer finger 61 engages the notches '57., whereas, when the strip of gummed labels is being fed, the inner finger 68 engages the central notches 18.

A printing head 8% is vertically slidably mounted on the frame. The face of the frame is vertically grooved. A slide 8| carrying the head is mounted for reciprocation in the guideway and is held in place by means of a plate 82 fixed in a countersunk portion of the frame by means of screws 83. .The back of the printing head is vertically notched to receive the bifurcated upper end of the slide plate. Screws 84 fix the head to the bifurcations of the plate. Thus the plate end straddles a lug portion of the head. This lug portion is crossnotched to provide a spring chamber 85.

The shaft 51 carries a crank disc 86. This disc is disposed in the bore of a crank arm 81 lying against the outer face of the frame. The upper end of the crank arm includes an inwardly turned portion 88 disposed at the upper end of the recess in the back of the head. A heavy coil spring 89 is disposed under compression between the base of the spring socket and this inwardly turned portion of the crank arm.

Thus, a flexible connection is provided between the actuating means and the head. The crank arm may swing back and forth as it is actuated by the eccentric but the printing head moves in a directly vertical line. Moreover, the type elements 98, mounted in the printing head, yieldably engage the ticket in the printing operation so that the printing is uniform and the type does not cut into the tag.

A type chase 9I of previously disclosed form, is slid into the printing head and is supported on ways 92 formed therein. The type chase provides type supporting sockets 93, which have vertical grooves 94 in their side walls, terminating short of the bottom of the chase. The type elements include fins 95, engaged in these grooves and are thereby suspended in the sockets. As the type elements engage the ticket, they move upwardly into engagement with the adjacent surface 96 of the printing head for positive abutment in the printing operation.

The inking of the type is performed by means of a cam 91 fixed alongside of the crank disc between the crank disc and the frame. Spacer discs 98 are interposed along the shaft between the crank disc and the cam, just mentioned for taking up the space resulting because of the thickness of the slide BI of the printing head and its retainer plate 82. A-pin 99 holds these parts, that is, the crank disc, the cam and the.

spacers, for unitary rotation.

The cam 91 actuates a vertically mounted slide I88, the upper end of which engages a downwardly extended spring clip IN on the base wall of the feeding unit. This cam has an abrupt shoulder to permit quick lowering motion of the pad. Thus, when the feeding unit is at forward position, this mechanism will urge it upwardly, moving the inking pad against the type.

As accessories to the machine, a cover I82 overhangs the forward part of the guide. The strip of tickets is delivered between this cover and the guideway. A counting device I83 may be mounted at the forward end of the guideway and actuated by the movement of the printing head. The lever I84 of the counting device is disposed between a pair of actuating pins I85 carried by a bracket I86, fixed to the printing head. A cover plate I81 is fixed to the side of the frame and overhangs the inking pad when it is in return position, thus preventing contact of any sort with the pad or the deposit of dirt thereon. The machine may be carried by means of a handle I88 consisting of a vertically disposed element attached to the forward face of the frame by means of arms I89.

That portion of the subject matter of this application concerned with the construction of the frame housing the roll of tickets and providing a table. across which the tickets are fed Operation It will be assumed that the mechanism is in position with the feeding unit drawn back. The strip of tickets is inserted sufiiciently to place its first notch in front of the feed fingers. The crank is then operated and the appropriate feed finger engages the notch or slit of the ticket strip. The strip is then fed forwardly through the guide the width of the ticket. As it comes to rest, the inking pad is raised against the type. This same motion disengages the fingers by a slight lifting action. The feeding unit then drops down as the slide retreats or moves back under the influence of the spring. As soon as the feed unit is clear of the printing head, the printing head moves down and effects the printing of the ticket resting on the platen. This cycle of operation may be continuous each time a ticket is delivered forwandly and another ticket brought up for printing.

I claim:

1. In a price marking machine, a frame providing a guide channel adapted to receive a strip of tickets, said channel including an inner longitudinal guiding edge, each ticket including a laterally projecting clip, and a guide plate disposed along the outer side of the guideway adjacent the clips, the upper edge of said plate notched to provide rest portions for each clip disposed in the plane of the base of the guide channel, the balance of the edge portions of the guide plate being of sufilcient height to constitute the outer guiding edge for the strip of tickets.

2. In a price marking machine, a frame providing a guide channel adapted to receive a strip of tickets, each ticket including a laterally projecting clip, a guide plate disposed along the side of the guideway adjacent the clips and providing a side rail for the guide channel, said plate notched to provide supporting edges for each clip disposed in the plane of the base of the guide channel, the balance of the edge of the guide plate being of sufficient height to constitute the guiding edge for the strip of tickets, and additional guiding means in the guide channel for guiding strips of tickets of less width than those normally engaging said guide plate.

3. In a price marking machine, a frame providing a guideway, a guide strip providing an edge engaging the outer longitudinal edge of a strip of tickets of the type including wire clips, said guiding strip notched out to provide clearance for receiving the clips when the respective ticket are being printed, means .for feeding the tickets through the guideway, a flanged roller at the receiving end of said guideway for receiving and guiding a strip of tickets of less width than those normally guided by said guide strip.

4. In a price marking machine, a frame pro viding a guideway, a guide strip providing an edge engaging the outer longitudinal edge of a strip of tickets of the type including Wire clips, said guiding strip notched out to provide clearance for receiving the clips when the respective tickets are being printed, and means for feeding the tickets through the guideway.

5. A feeding mechanism for a price marking machine including the guideway thereof, a plate mounted in the guideway and resting upon the strip being fed, said plate including a flange alongits outer side, said flange providing a lateral outside abutment for the outer edge of a narrow strip of tickets and adapted to rest upon a wider strip of tickets and, strip feeding means adapted to be reciprocated over the top of said plate.

6. A feeding mechanism for a price marking machine including the guideway thereof, a presser plate mounted in the guideway and resting upon the strip being fed, said'presser plate including a flange along its outer side, said flange extending forwardly and providing a lateral outside abutment for the outer edge of a narrow strip of tickets and adapted to rest upon a Wider strip of tickets and, feeding means adapted to be reciprocated over the top of said presser plate including means engaging the strip.

7. In a price tag marking machine, a guideway through which a strip of tickets is adapted to be fed, a presser plate lying loosely upon said strip of tickets and held against lateral displacement, said presser plate including spaced longitudinal slots in the delivery end thereof, a feed carriage, a lever pivotally mounting and actuating said feed carriage, said carriage disposed for sliding movement on the presser plate in the guideway, fingers pivoted on the carriage and having forward feeding ends projecting into contact with the strip through said slots in the presser plate, said feed fingers including forward extensions overhanging the feed" carriage and means for elevating said feed carriage at the forward end of its stroke and, through said extensions lifting said fingers from engagement with the strip, said fingers being disengaged from said strip at the rear limit of carriage movement by engagement with the .rear ends of the slots in the presser plate.

8. In .a price marking machine, a guideway through which a strip of tickets is adapted to be fed, a p-resser plate lying loosely upon'the strip of tickets and held against displacement, a feed carriage, a lever for moving said feed carriage along the guideway, said carriage disposed for sliding movement on the presser plate in the guideway, fingers pivotally mounted on the carriage and having forward feeding ends projecting into contact with'the strip when disposed beyond the forward end of the presser plate, said feed fingers including forward extensions overhanging thefeed carriage, springs between the carriage and the fingers normally urging the fingers downwardly, and means for elevating said feed carriage at the forward end of its stroke, said upward movementof. the feed carriage lifting said fingers through said extensions, whereby the springs do not become displaced, said fingers be ing disengaged from the strip at the rear limit of carriage movement by engagement with the presser plate.

FREDERICK KOHNLE. 

